Do You / Have You Recycled Old Hardware

We have. Even as far as unwinding transformers for the copper wire. Small amounts there but still recycled. The case metal for old hard drives cases, the recycle center said -it is metal they're looking for. Though small amounts are gained from each box, every little bit helps. I have found complete comps on the roadside that booted and ran, so evidence every people doesn't recycle. I see some manufacturers and outlets encourage turn-ins.
What did you do with your last oldest/ least used device? Do you think this is not worth the small return or is it worth the effort to be a part of not polluting the environment?

 

I recycle all of my gadgets, old PCs, radios, etc. My last bit of recycling was a 6 year old 32 bit acer netbook. Like you I believe in being part of the solution to our environmental woes.

 

Save the stuff that is worth money and chuck the rest.You can put a lot of this stuff into a scrap yard.

Especially the Gold flakes that are on the cpu and ram.

 

I gathered up all my old computers, printers, cables, etc. minus the hard drives and gave it to a small local repair shop. The guy will harvest what he can use and dispose of the rest at the recycle center. Saves me time and helps him a little and it does not just end up at the dump.

 

I usually recycle hard drives, video card, and sound cards from old PCs that we have at home.

 

I save some stuff instead of recycling it away. Have older ram and sound, video, and network cards in case an old box comes along needing any. Have an old NEC cdrom 4-disk changer for pc's. First cdrom I ever had. Came in a 486 box. I have narrowed my 'savings' to a smaller amount though.

 

I took a huge box of legacy stuff to the e-waste pile a while back. Old parallel cables, SCSI, and even SDRAM modules in the mix.

I did hang onto a few RS-232 cables, however...

 

Take a gander at some of these photos of what we techies and workers have been generating.

https://www.google.com/search?q=e-w...ACy0QsAQIHQ#q=e-waste+pile&tbm=isch&tbs=isz:l

And a neat site for info on recycling tech products.

http://www.electronicstakeback.com/how-to-recycle-electronics/

There is a lot of poor (hazardous) recycling being done worldwide. And in the coming years more is going to be needed in the form of responsible actions by individuals and corporations to turn this around. After I have turned in my 'junk', I can only hope it is being processed safely. Safely for the environment and also for the worker who does the actual recovery of the components/materials. Very few states here in the US have e-waste laws so there is no norm. Probably true of other places.?

 

I do as much as possible. I work on and repair computers, so people often give me their old PC's when they get a new one. Often these computers don't work (which is why they were replaced).

I'll fix what's wrong if I can, clean up the OS on it if it's Windows 7 or above . . . if not I put a Linux distro on it. I'll do any hardware updates I can depending on what parts I have available. Then I give them away to people who need a computer but can't afford one, or want to get their kid one. If the computer cannot be repaired (motherboard dead, CPU fried, etc.) I'll keep the usable components and use them as the need comes up.

For dead motherboards, drives, optical drives, etc. I take them to an appropriate recycling ctr once I get a box full. Doesn't happen much, as fully 8o+% of the computers I get as being "dead" can be repaired pretty simply . . . often it's a dead power supply or a video card issue. Had one or two where the CPU died due to heat. Unwanted empty metal cases I just put out on the curb by the trash. They usually vanish within 24hrs - snatched up by metal scrappers.

I'm given fully functional computers also. It frequently amazes what people throw away as "outdated" . . . if your internet usage consists of checking e-mail, social media, doing clerical work, and even light gaming, an "old" computer from 10yrs ago would fit your needs just fine. The only issue would be the operating system - Windows OS's XP and below are not supported anymore, so that is a security concern. (Vista, I believe, can still get security updates till 4/2017).

Don't get as many old PC's like I used to. I guess with the economy being so slow people are not upgrading as much.

 

I've been doing just that for a long time as well Spad. Right now I've got three Vista machines, and an LGA 1156 setup that needs a motherboard.

I don't have the access to e-waste that I used to now that the local landfill has clamped down via DEC regulations. Technically, you need a hazardous waste permit and some other DEC paperwork to take possession of discarded e-waste these days. I find myself needing to change my focus, and put out business cards or flyers seeking e-waste if I'm going to keep the parts stockpile going. Apparently I need to take possession of the "hazardous waste" before it gets to the landfill. What a joke...

 

I had a couple of laptops and two desk tops I wasn't using. I gave them away to some of my neighbors.
I had two cell phones I cleared and gave them to a shelter for 911 use.

 

That is a good idea, I had never thought about them taking old phones.